Canadian Man Wins Landmark Case To Have Medical Marijuana Covered By Insurance

Canadian Man Wins Landmark Case To Have Medical Marijuana Covered By Insurance

February 7, 2017

An independent human rights board of inquiry has ruled that Gordon (Wayne) Skinner’s medical marijuana expenses are to be covered by his employee insurance plan.

Canadian Man Wins Landmark Case To Have Medical Marijuana Covered By Insurance – Mr. Skinner suffers from chronic pain. He had a motor vehicle accident when he was an elevator mechanic with ThyssenKrupp Elevator Canada. He has been unable to work and medical marijuana had helped his condition over long term opioid use for pain relief. Mr. Skinner, stated that he faced discrimination in accessing insurance coverage based on his disability.

Mr. Perryman concluded that the plan includes conditions and rules for the coverage of medical marijuana as an eligible expense. For example, since medical marijuana requires a recommendation by law, it did not fall within the plan’s exclusions. Since medical marijuana was prescribed for pain management, it was accepted that it is a medical necessity and should be covered.

Mr. Skinner’s medical marijuana expenses must now be covered by the Canadian Elevator Industry Welfare Trust Plan up to and including the full amount of his most recent prescription.

The reimbursement will only be required where medical marijuana was purchased from a producer licensed by Health Canada or a person legally authorized to produce for Mr. Skinner under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations. The claim must also be supported by an official receipt.

From The Human Rights Commission

A Nova Scotia man who complained that he faced discrimination by his insurance plan based on his disability, will now have his medical marijuana expenses covered.

Gordon (Wayne) Skinner, of Head of Chezzetcook, Halifax Regional Municipality, had a motor vehicle accident while working as an elevator mechanic. He had been denied coverage for medical marijuana, even though it relieved his chronic pain symptoms over conventional treatments.